domenica 6 gennaio 2013

Since so many of you seem to be enjoying the new Mushy album "Breathless", we thought we’d share the first video from it, a moody meditation on “My Life So Far.” Or as the singer/producer puts it in our exclusive track-by-track commentary, it’s about “the people I met, about what I’ve found and I’ve lost. Life is a continuous cycle and the most important thing is consciously taking part in it if we want to live”…

lunedì 1 ottobre 2012

Fresh off the news that the new Mushy album (Breathless) is set to drop on November 19th through Mannequin Records, we’re psyched to share the title track of the Italian singer/producer’s new 12”, My Life So Far. Follow its dub-y downward spiral—featuring 4AD alums A.R. Kane—below, and grab the limited single on October 15th…

domenica 13 maggio 2012

Hailing from Rome – Italy, Newclear Waves is essentially the solo project of Alessandro Adriani, mind and boss of Mannequin Records, one of the most important synth wave / cold wave labels around, with contributions from Oksana Xiu, an academic russian musician devoted to analog synths. Deeply influenced by the works of the early minimal electronics sounds on Mute Records and 4AD, Newclear Waves is exploring droned out electro pop territories with

an interest for a refreshing hyperactive 80s New Wave. finding his own identity somewhere between Snowy Red, The Normal and the first Human League.

Having turned out releases on Mannequin Records, the duo is now presenting a full‐lenght ten tracks collection of caliginous pure analog minimal synth on the way on Desire Records, french Cold Wave and Electro Wave label, focused both in new artists and stunning reissues from 4AD like Mass, In Camera and Dance Chapter.

NW releases received many features in important magazines, such as The Wire, Still Single

and 20 Jazz Funk Greats, an was playing besides artists such as Xeno & Oaklander, The

Alessandro Adriani was born and raised in Rome, Italy and in 2008 he launched Mannequin

Records label and mailorder and has been focused on that ever since. Aside from the label, he

was producing tracks in his own Mannequin studio for some of the best new bands from Italy, like Mushy, Der Noir and Ancien Régime. He also DJs in many clubs around the world, mixing in vinyl only some of the best italo‐cosmic‐minimalsynth‐electrowave tunes.

Oksana Xiu was born in Estonia, studied academic music in Russia. Academic knowledges had a deep impact in the creative process of her musical entity. During several years she also sang in the church's choir which is undoubtedly had influenced her work.

“'Cold Wave battle uptown. Now'”

‐ The Wire

“You want names? You don’t get them as since yesterday I will compare Newclear Waves only

with Newclear Waves, simply as they’re brilliant.” ­

- Peek‐A‐Boo Magazine

“If I had a goth/minimal wave dance night I would play Newclear Waves’ side. The only thing

venerdì 11 maggio 2012

Like the Henry Miller novel of the same name, Tropic Of Cancer deal in the dark, the obsessive and the sexually charged.

Camella Lobo’s dark-eyed solo project finds a creepy middle ground between early Eighties coldwave and bruised indie rock. Having turned out releases on the likes of Downwards and Blackest Ever Black, the ensemble now have a new three-track collection of caliginous electro-pop on the way on Mannequin.
Permissions Of Love sees the band elaborating their trademark sound. Lobo and co are clearly not averse to tampering with a winning formula; the graceful ‘Beneath The Light’ in particular shows them assimilating previously unheard influences into their shadowy soundworld. ‘The One Left’ is tougher fare than usual, and the dreamy ‘It’s All Come Undone’ highlights the softer elements of their sound.

mercoledì 9 maggio 2012

Desire Records is proud to announce the release of subtitled debut album by Italian synth-wave masters Newclear Waves.

Hailing from Rome, exploring droned out electro pop territories with an interest for a refreshing hyperactive 80s New Wave, Newclear Waves’ soundscapes seem to surround a fruitful visual-graphical imaginary which deals with mass consumption, apocalyptic visions, weird machineries, post-modernism and the order of chaos. A promising new coming in the universe of home made electronic avant-gardism.

martedì 1 maggio 2012

Mannequin is really proud to announce the forthcoming brand new 12'' from Tropic of Cancer, one the most important realities in the modern post-punk and darkwave scene.

Essentially the solo project of LA-based Camella Lobo, with contributions from John Mendez (aka Sandwell District’s Silent Servant) and Taylor Burch (DVA Damas) and after two sold-out releases on labels Blackest Ever Black and Downwards, Tropic Of Cancer have stoked their slow burning reputation into the makings of what isbeing referred to as a 'modern classic.'

Though Tropic Of Cancer's sound has been called gothic, cold wave and drone pop, the band's take on their influences isanything but nostalgic. Lobo and Mendez have managed to imbue their own elusive gaze and craft a strangely beautiful and intoxicating sound in the wake of theirpredecessors.

The three tracks on this new 12'' take us gently by the hand into a slowed-down opium dream - it's like watching the desert from the same stark corners where Lyciastood many years ago.

This EP gathers the primal thrust of their bleak Post-Punk (think about Cultural Decay shaking hands with Section 25 in their psychedelic/buddhist years) and Minimal Wave aesthetics with this entirely new dimension in the music of TOC – heartfelt and deep.